Remember when Johnny Depp, his Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski, and producer Hal Willner corralled a group of artists-- among them Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Bono, Van Dyke Parks, and Bryan Ferry-- to record new versions of old "pirate ballads, sea songs, and chanteys"? That 2006 compilation, Rogue's Gallery, is getting a second installment.

Willner, Depp, and Verbinski have spearheaded the sequel, which is out on Anti- on February 19, and called Son of Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys. The two-disc comp features Tom Waits teaming up with Keith Richards, Patti Smith teaming up with Johnny Depp, Courtney Love teaming up with Michael Stipe, Iggy Pop teaming up with A Hawk and a Hacksaw, plus Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Michael Gira of Swans, Broken Social Scene, Antony, and many more.

Listen as the Pogues' Shane MacGowan, Depp, and Verbinski take on the chanty "Leaving of Liverpool" at Rolling Stone.

I certainly can say that this rendition of "The Leaving of Liverpool" is not to my taste; I'd start by deleting the drum track. Then I might be able to hear what's left... But the promoters are launching a major nautical music initiative which will attract the attention of a vastly larger and younger audience that currently attends our concerts and special events.

Is liking this so taboo that one must be an anonymous guest to do so? :0

Say more, guys/gals! Elaboration!

I think some of the renditions are very well done. I suppose I am both a purist *and* someone who appreciates creativity, so I can find things in it that both please and irk me. "Sally Racket" was well done, in my opinion. The items I like least are the ones that feel like direct cover songs of earlier "folk revival" versions. I'd have preferred the new renditions were crafted from more "original" sources. I also think there needs to be more acknowledgement of the use of folk revival renditions as sources. In the absence of that acknowledgement, one creates the impression that the versions are "traditional" and "out there". I'd have to check, but for example I guessed that a song like Iggy Pop's was just a cover version of Jerry Bryant's recorded rendition. I think it's relevant to credit Jerry Bryant rather can giving the illusion that the song floated over to Iggy Pop out of the nebulous and free pool of traditional song... Dunno if I have the details right, though; I don't own the physical album.

There was a kickass review of this new compilation of sea chanteys pirate songs etc, I heard on npr - search npr.org for "pirate songs" snd it pops right up. Sorry am on my rectangle so cannot copy&paste. Loved almost all the songs despite them being nee to me... opinions? Chanteyranger?

I'm not a purist, but when performers with zero feeling for the real thing turn out for quick cash "covers" (as Gibb says) that masquerade as historical and cultural artifacts, and the old gorge starts to rise.

There were a handful of respectable performances on the first album (Eliza Carthy was great) and I expect there are some on the second.

Of course, I'd never quarrel with anyone's right to spend money on and enjoy the hell out of crap. Its production is a cornerstone of our economy. Party on!

I agree with Russ. It's fun party music, and it's interesting to see the spin the different artists put on these songs, but that's about it for me. I won't be singing along with it in the car or anything, and I won't be putting it on my iPod.